The Comics Waiting Room Newswire

2009-07-14T10:17:00.003-07:00

PRESS RELEASE - TYRESE GIBSON'S MAYHEM SHATTERS SINGLE STORE SALES RECORD JUST IN TIME FOR SAN DIEGO COMIC CON, RECEIVING ENDORSEMENTS BY COMIC BOOK HEAVYWEIGHTS!
TYRESE GIBSON'S MAYHEM yields big results from grassroots efforts combined with a world-wide press junket by one of Hollywood's biggest superstars!

13 July 2009 (Berkeley, CA) - TYRESE GIBSON's MAYHEM and Image Comics announce their presale efforts through a partnership with Los Angeles, CA's Meltdown Comics have exceeded single store records not seen since the early nineties with over ten thousand units sold.

"The success of MAYHEM is a golden opportunity for all retailers to tap into this new influx of readers and in-store foot traffic that Tyrese brings with him,” Meltdown owner Gaston Dominguez said. “Tyrese is a 2.0 celebrity who is a marketing workhorse and whose brand spans across movies, music, and TV. Team MAYHEM are in it to win it! They are sincere and want to put out good products that cater to their fan base and beyond. Believe me when I tell you that if Tyrese Twitters your store name you will get calls and in-store orders.”

Image Comics President SPAWN creator Todd McFarlane added, "With the current state of the comic book industry, any new infusion of excitement or customers would be a welcome relief. Tyrese brings both of those to the table along with his unbridled enthusiasm. Image is looking forward to having a long sustained run with him on MAYHEM and some of the other ideas he's talked about for the future."

TYRESE GIBSON'S MAYHEM has not only been pushed by Gibson's own efforts through Twitter and his personal outreach to comics retailers, but its also been the center of a world wide publicity campaign tied into his starring role in the recent blockbuster film, Transformers 2. Thus far MAYHEM has been featured by CNN, MTV, The Today Show, Complex, USA Today, E!'s Chelsea Lately, Access Hollywood, Essence, among many others. The tour continues as Gibson, along with MAYHEM's artist, Tone Rodriguez, and co-writers, Mike Le and Will Wilson, will be in attendance during this month's San Diego Comic Con International at Image Comics, booth #2729. He will also be discussing the future of MAYHEM along with the long awaited unveiling of the eventual collection's cover by Image Founder and the superstar artist of ALL-STAR BATMAN & ROBIN, Jim Lee, during The Image Comics Show on Friday, July 24th at 11:30 in Room 5AB.

Lee added, "There's nothing more compelling about a bold, original character than an impassioned team of creators. MAYHEM's boundless energy starts from the top as whirlwind dynamo creator Tyrese Gibson singlehandedly makes you love the character as if he were your very own betrayed, tragic son seeking redemption. MAYHEM is fresh, fun and most importantly, from the heart."

“I am humbled by the love and support MAYHEM has received from all the legendary comic veterans and trend-setters,” Gibson said. “To have the personal endorsements of Jim Lee, Avi Arad, Todd McFarlane, Robert Kirkman, Grant Morrison and so many others ... it just blows my mind. I am excited to bring MAYHEM to the die-hard comic book fans, but I am most excited at this opportunity to expose this world to the new generation of comic book fans, who, like me until now have never read a comic book in their lives. They will find new heroes to embrace and enjoy escapism at it's best! This is only the beginning!"

TYRESE GIBSON'S MAYHEM #1 (JUN090321), a 32-page full color comic book for $2.99, will be in-stores August 5th, 2009. For real time MAYHEM updates, please follow Tyrese on Twitter, http://www.twitter.com/Tyrese4Real.

Image Comics is a comics and graphic novels publisher formed in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Since that time, Image has gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. There are currently five partners in Image Comics (Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri, and Jim Valentino), and Image is currently divided into four major houses (Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, and Image Central). Image comics and graphic novels cover nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable, offering science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor, and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. Visit www.imagecomics.com.

2009-07-14T10:17:00.001-07:00

HarperCollinsCanada
signs deal with
BOOM! Studios

Leading graphic novel properties to get wider distribution
including Disney PIXAR and The Muppets

JULY 14TH, 2009 - TORONTO — HarperCollinsCanada and BOOM! Studios announced an agreement today that will see BOOM!’s original and licensed graphic novels distributed through HarperCollins to book retailers across Canada. Shipments from the HarperCollinsCanada warehouse will begin in July.

Founded in 2005, BOOM! Studios publishes both periodical comic books and graphic novels. Within four months of publishing its first comic book, BOOM! Studios was named Best New Publisher by Wizard Magazine. In 2007, industry legend Mark Waid, writer of one of the best-selling graphic novels of all time, Kingdom Come, came aboard as Editor-in-Chief. This fall will see BOOM! Kids — publishing well known licensed Disney properties as The World Of Cars, Toy Story, The Incredibles and The Muppet Show — release a series of graphic novels for kids to the mass market. BOOM! continues to grow and explode, finding a wider and wider audience.

"We are extremely excited about this alliance with HarperCollinsCanada," BOOM! Studios CEO Ross Richie said, "The team at the company is an exciting, powerful group that will take BOOM! to the next level, building on our Direct Market and newsstand presence and allowing us to focus on the Canadian market in a smart, targeted way with some of the biggest and best brands in the world, such as our Pixar and Muppets comic books, as well as Farscape, Philip K. Dick's science fiction classic Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and upcoming blockbusters like Die Hard."

“BOOM! has gathered some of the world’s most cherished characters and storylines under their imprint,” said Leo MacDonald, Vice President, Sales and Marketing at HarperCollinsCanada. “We are excited to be able to bring such high-quality product to a wider Canadian marketplace.”

More information on BOOM! Studios can be found at www.boom-studios.com. The company's new all ages imprint includes its own website, www.boom-kids.com.

HarperCollinsCanada publishes fiction, non-fiction, and books for children, as well as religious and reference books. HarperCollins imprints in Canada include HarperCollins, HarperPerennial, HarperTrophyCanada, Collins, and Phyllis Bruce Books. These imprints publish many of Canada’s finest writers, including Bonnie Burnard, Charlotte Gray, Lawrence Hill, Barbara Kingsolver and Kenneth Oppel as well as writers and leading authorities from Canada and around the world, such as Nick Cave, Tim Flannery, Theo Fleury, J.L. Granatstein, and General Rick Hillier.

HarperCollinsCanada also distributes America’s Test Kitchen, TokyoPop, Zondervan, and HarperCollins, Collins, Perennial and Harper Paperbacks from the US and the UK. HarperCollins is also the first publisher to digitize its content and create a global digital warehouse to protect the rights of its authors, meet consumer demand, and generate additional business opportunities. Visit the HarperCollinsCanada website at www.harpercollins.ca.

2009-07-14T10:16:00.001-07:00

ART FOR OBAMA
Designing Manifest Hope and the Campaign for Change
Edited by Shepard Fairey & Jennifer Gross

Few events in recent memory have captivated the world's attention like that of Barack Obama's historic presidential campaign. Not only did it stir passionate political momentum, but it also inspired an array of creative arts from a world of artists, illustrators, and graphic designers. Shepard Fairey's iconic "HOPE" portrait became the face of the campaign, prompting a personal thank-you note from the president, which is included in ART FOR OBAMA (Abrams Image; October 2009; $22.50 US / $29.50 CAN; ISBN: 978-0-8109-8498-1). In conjunction with the themes of hope and change, all of the authors' profits from this book will be donated to Americans for the Arts (http://www.americansforthearts.org/) charity.

Innovative portraits and graphic designs from artists around the country became a powerful symbol of the country's desire for change, and engaging artists-from the grassroots level to the international level-became a central strategy to inspire passion and win the presidential race. In ART FOR OBAMA, Fairey showcases 150 of those powerful images from the campaign, including works created by well-known artists such as, Ron English, David Choe, Kwaku Alston, Maya Hayuk, Justin Hampton, and Shel Starkman. The Manifest Hope art shows, which took place in Denver during the Democratic National Convention and Washington DC preceding the inauguration, featured artists who used their talents to motivate the grassroots movement that carried Barack Obama to victory. The shows were put on by Evolutionary Media Group, Obey Giant, MoveOn.org, Political Action, SEIU and Studio Number One.

ART FOR OBAMA is comprised of collages, paintings, photo composites, prints, and computer-generated pieces, showcasing the well-known images of the campaign as well as less famous, but equally creative pieces from around the globe. This is a volume for design and art aficionados, as well as supporters of the forty-fourth president of the United States who want a keepsake as uncommon as his extraordinary campaign.

ART FOR OBAMA: Designing Manifest Hope and the Campaign for Change
Abrams Image / October 2009
$22.50 US / $29.50 CAN; ISBN: 978-0-8109-8498-1
150 full-color illustrations; 184 pages

2009-07-14T10:15:00.000-07:00

FARSCAPE CREATOR
ROCKNE S. O'BANNON TO SIGN
EXCLUSIVE COMIC-CON '09
FARSCAPE VOL. 1
"SCORPIUS EDITION" HARDCOVER
LIMITED TO 500

FARSCAPE COMICS' SCRIPTER KEITH R.A. DECANDIDO TO ALSO APPEAR AT BOOM! BOOTH

BOTH TO APPEAR AT FARSCAPE 10TH ANNIVERSARY PANEL AND FARSCAPE COMICS PANELS!

FARSCAPE VOL. 1 COMIC-CON '09 EXCLUSIVE ONLY AVAILABLE AT
BOOM! STUDIOS BOOTH #2543

ROCKNE S. O'BANNON SIGNING AT BOOM! BOOTH #2543
FRIDAY 2pm AND SATURDAY AT 3:45pm

July 14th, 2009 - Los Angeles — Don't frelling miss this! FARSCAPE creator Rockne S. O'Bannon will be signing a one of a kind collector's “Scorpius Edition” of the FARSCAPE Vol. 1 Hardcover that is exclusive to Comic-Con 2009 attendees. This exclusive hardcover edition will be limited to 500 copies and is priced at $50. This exclusive will only be available at the BOOM! Studios Booth (#2543) —where you can find Rockne S. O'Bannon signing Friday at 2pm and Saturday at 3:45pm!

O'Bannon will be joined with FARSCAPE comics scribe Keith R.A. DeCandido — who will be at the BOOM! Studios booth all week during Comic-Con signing a limited supply of single issues of the multiple sell-out, critically acclaimed mini-series FARSCAPE, FARSCAPE: STRANGE DETRACTORS, and FARSCAPE: D'ARGO'S LAMENT. DeCandido will also be available to sign during O'Bannon's scheduled signing times.

Rockne S. O'Bannon will also be appearing as part of the FARSCAPE 10th Anniversary Panel during Comic-Con '09 on Friday, July 24th at 10:15am in Room 6BCF with FARSCAPE television show stars Ben Browder (John Crichton), Claudia Black (Aeryn Sun) and executive producer/director Brian Henson. DeCandido will be moderating the 10th Anniversary Panel which helps celebrate the re-release of the critically acclaimed TV show to DVD this coming November.

In addition, O'Bannon and DeCandido will appear on Saturday, July 25th at 2:30pm for the BOOM! Studios FARSCAPE Comics Panel in Room 10 to talk about the smash hit comic series of 2009 with FARSCAPE comics editor Ian Brill.

Following both panels, O'Bannon and DeCandido will appear together at the BOOM! Studios booth (#2543) to sign the Exclusive Comic-Con '09 FARSCAPE Vol. 1 "Scorpius Edition" Hardcover. Keith R.A. DeCandido will be appearing at the BOOM! Studios booth throughout the show.

While 2009 sees the 10th Anniversary of the celebrated sci-fi action series; this year has also seen a resurgence of the FARSCAPE franchise in comic book form from Top Ten comic book publisher BOOM! Studios.

Premiering with a four-issue FARSCAPE series in December of 2008, the FARSCAPE comic book took fans by storm as the series saw unanimous critical acclaim and multiple sell-outs and reprints. The initial FARSCAPE comic series was quickly followed up by FARSCAPE: STRANGE DETRACTORS, FARSCAPE: D'ARGO'S LAMENT and the forthcoming FARSCAPE: D'ARGO'S TRIAL.

The initial FARSCAPE four issue series and FARSCAPE: STRANGE DETRACTORS picks up directly where the television miniseries FARSCAPE: THE PEACEKEEPER WARS left off. Fans everywhere have enjoyed show creator O’Bannon steering their favorite characters into new and original stories, keeping with the existing canon — and extending it! Using O'Bannon's unique vision and richly detailed story, DeCandido has worked with BOOM! Studios and The Jim Henson Company to bring fans the best comic this or any universe has ever seen!

Under the watchful eye of O'Bannon, DeCandido has brought two all new D'Argo stories — completely told in series continuity — with the smash hit mini-series FARSCAPE: D'ARGO'S LAMENT and the soon-to-be-released FARSCAPE: D'ARGO'S TRIAL.

Debuting on the SCI-FI Channel in 1998, FARSCAPE follows the adventures of astronaut John Crichton, who has a freak accident during an experimental space mission that catapults him across a thousand galaxies to an alien battlefield. Suddenly, he’s trapped among alien creatures wielding deadly technology - a battle that 20th century sci-fi pop culture never prepared him for. Hunted by a merciless military race, Crichton begins his quest for home from a distant galaxy.

A groundbreaking award-winning sci-fi production, FARSCAPE from The Jim Henson Company and [HALLMARK] has become a global favorite. Named by TV Guide as one of television’s “Best Cult Shows Ever” and most recently named by EMPIRE Magazine as one of the “50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time,” FARSCAPE is known for the overwhelming fan-based campaign that led to its miniseries production. The show has continued to find new audiences as it airs in syndication and is available on iTunes and DVD.

About BOOM! Studios
BOOM! Studios (www.boom-studios.com) is a unique publishing house specializing in high-profile projects across a wide variety of different genres from some of the industry's biggest talents, including Philip K. Dick's DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP?, The Henson Company's FARSCAPE, and the original Mark Waid series IRREDEEMABLE. BOOM! recently launched its youth imprint, BOOM! Kids, with Pixar's THE INCREDIBLES, CARS, and TOY STORY, as well as Disney's THE MUPPETS. This year, BOOM! Studios celebrates its fourth anniversary.

2009-07-13T15:59:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
*******************************************************
NEW SURROGATES TO DEBUT AT COMIC-CON
*******************************************************

Top Shelf Productions is proud to announce that three
SURROGATES books will debut at the San Diego Comic-Con on
July 23-26, and series writer and artist, Robert Venditti and
Brett Weldele, will be at the Top Shelf booth (#1721) the
entire weekend signing all three:

-- THE SIGNED & NUM LIMITED ED OF "THE SURROGATES OWNER'S MANUAL"
[the special hardcover of Vols 1 & 2 combined, limited to 1000]

-- THE SURROGATES (VOL 2): FLESH AND BONE
[the all-new prequel to the hit graphic novel]

-- THE SURROGATES (VOL 1) [new cover edition]
[the original graphic novel soon to be a major motion picture]

To see all three books, click here:
www.topshelfcomix.com/robertvenditti

The movie from Touchstone Pictures, starring Bruce Willis,
will hit theatres on Sept 25th!

To see the movie trailer, click here:
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/news.php?article=432

To see the brand new movie poster, click here:
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/news.php?article=450

--

"FLESH AND BONE reads like Philip K. Dick writing an episode
of The Wire ... a smart, compelling and adult work asking
questions with no easy answers." -- io9

"If THE SURROGATES dipped its toe into the tipping point of
techno-social change, FLESH AND BONE deftly splashes about
in the pool." -- UGO.com

"The Best Indie Book of the year. Sci-fi tales are making
a comeback and THE SURROGATES is quietly leading the
charge." -- IGN

"An absolutely fascinating piece of work -- heartfelt
and thoughtful." -- Fantasy & Science Fiction

*******************************************************
A SPECIAL OFFER FOR EVERYONE NOT ABLE TO
ATTEND COMIC-CON THIS YEAR:
*******************************************************

Pre-order the SIGNED & NUMBERED EDITION of THE SURROGATES
OWNERS MANUAL, or any of the other Top Shelf debuts listed in
this press release, and receive free Media Mail shipping
during the month of July (limited to domestic orders).
Click here to see all the new graphic novels available:

http://www.topshelfcomix.com/specialdeals
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/specialdeals
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/specialdeals

*******************************************************
TOP SHELF'S OTHER BIG GUESTS FOR SAN DIEGO!
*******************************************************

In addition to the Top Shelf PANEL that will be held from
4-5PM on Thursday July 23rd in Room 10, and Robert Venditti
and Brett Weldele attending (as mentioned above), Top Shelf
will also be featuring the following creators all weekend:

JEFF LEMIRE
-- Signing the debut softcover and hardcover editions of
THE COLLECTED ESSEX COUNTY.
www.topshelfcomix.com/jefflemire

KEVIN CANNON
-- Signing his Top Shelf debut, FAR ARDEN.
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=12&title=636

BWANA SPOONS
-- Signing Top Shelf's first art book, WELCOME TO FOREST ISLAND.
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=12&title=642

ANDY RUNTON
-- Showcasing all five of his OWLY graphic novels (with new
covers), a new set of T-shirts, a new round of Plush Toys,
and a sneak peak at a new Owly animation trailer
from Sprite Animation.
www.topshelfcomix.com/owly

THE INDIE SPINNER RACK TEAM
-- Showcasing their new anthology AWESOME 2: AWESOMER.
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=12&title=639

NATE POWELL
-- Signing copies of SWALLOW ME WHOLE.
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=30&title=567

JEFFREY BROWN
-- Signing his entire line of graphic novels (including the
new FUNNY MISSHAPEN BODY from Touchstone Books).
www.topshelfcomix.com/jeffreybrown

MATT KINDT
-- Signing copies of SUPER SPY, and bringing all his
amazingly-designed boutique items.
www.topshelfcomix.com/mattkindt

RICH KOSLOWSKI
-- Signing copies of THE KING.
www.topshelfcomix.com/richkoslowski

The All-New Single Volume Edition of LOST GIRLS

And the Top Shelf crew of CHRIS STAROS, BRETT WARNOCK
& LEIGH WALTON.

Come see us there!

*******************************************************
IN THE CURRENT DIAMOND PREVIEWS!
*******************************************************

And while Eddie Campbell won't be able to attend Comic-Con
this year, his life-size omnibus, ALEC: THE YEARS HAVE PANTS,
is in this month's Previews, and available for pre-ordering.
THE YEARS HAVE PANTS collects the previous Alec books
THE KING CANUTE CROWD, GRAFFITI KITCHEN, HOW TO BE AN ARTIST,
LITTLE ITALY, THE DEAD MUSE, THE DANCE OF LIFEY DEATH,
AFTER THE SNOOTER, as well as an all-new 35 page book,
THE YEARS HAVE PANTS, and many other short stories rarely
or never before seen. In this deluxe 640-page collection,
the groundbreaking autobiographical comics of master cartoonist
Eddie Campbell are brought together in a single handsome
volume for the very first time.

ALEC: THE YEARS HAVE PANTS (SOFTCOVER)
by Eddie Campbell
-- $35.00 (US), 640 pages
-- Diamond: JUL091081, ISBN 978-1-60309-025-4

ALEC: THE YEARS HAVE PANTS (SPECIAL HARDCOVER)
by Eddie Campbell
-- $49.95 (US), 640 pages
-- Diamond: JUL091082, ISBN 978-1-60309-047-6

To see both editions, click here:
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/eddiecampbell

--

"ALEC is magic, and even if I knew how all of it was done
I'd be doing you a disservice if I pointed out the wires and
mirrors. ... It is written by someone who obviously finds
being alive an endless source of novelty
and conundrum." -- Alan Moore

"Do you need me to tell you how good Eddie Campbell is?
Or that ALEC is probably the best book-length comic about
art and wine and midlife crises and families and friends
and wine and love and art and saying goodbye and terror
there is?" -- Neil Gaiman

*******************************************************

See y'all at San Diego,

Chris Staros
Top Shelf Productions

2009-07-13T11:34:00.000-07:00

IDW Announces Yoe! Books

Publishing company to release Craig Yoe books under new imprint

First book releasing in fall, 2009

San Diego, CA (July 9, 2009) – Yoe is coming to IDW! On the heels of the media frenzy surrounding his highly-acclaimed new book, Secret Identity: The Fetish Art of Superman’s Co-Creator Joe Shuster, IDW is proud to announce Yoe! Books, a new imprint that will publish numerous books by the author, editor and designer Craig Yoe, beginning with The Art of Ditko, a large-format book and The Complete Milt Gross Life Story and Comic Books, both releasing this fall. Ditko features little-seen stories and original artwork and an introduction by Stan Lee. Milt Gross sports a FOLD-INtroduction by Mad magazine's Al Jaffee and scarce ephemera and comics. These first two offerings foretell the genre-spanning range of Yoe! Books.

“IDW is committed to expanding our book collections, and continuing to offer readers a wide variety of unique and historical material,” said Greg Goldstein, IDW’s chief operating officer. “We’re excited to be the home of Craig's imprint, Yoe! Books, highlighting unknown geniuses and revelatory books on well-known names.”

Co-founder of YOE! Studio, Eisner Award-winner Yoe is highly-regarded throughout the entertainment industry for his creative and out-of-the-box books, which often focus on historical comic art. Yoe! Books at IDW will release many such books, starting with The Art of Ditko, which boasts an introduction by Lee. Ditko showcases the best of this seminal artist, who co-created Spider-Man and Dr. Strange with Lee and includes the artist’s most innovative and rare stories, original art presented in full color and essays by Jerry Robinson, John Romita, and P. Craig Russell.

A ground-breaking Jewish cartoonist, Milt Gross was a celebrity in his time, capping his career with hilarious stories for the comic book industry. Yoe! Books will commemorate the life of this great cartoonist with The Complete Milt Gross Life Story and Comic Books, reprinting every one of his rare comic book tales, plus offering a career-spanning biography based on interviews with those who knew and worked with him.

“I’m looking forward to spitting on my hands, pulling on my briefs, and tag-teaming with IDW. Together, we’re going to wrestle some great books to the ground,” said Yoe. “With my good looks and IDW’s beefy muscle, we make a winning team.”

Visit IDWPublishing.com to learn more about the company and its top-selling books.

2009-07-13T10:10:00.000-07:00

2009-07-13T10:06:00.000-07:00

SIMON & SCHUSTER, INC.
IN
SALES AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
WITH
BOOM! STUDIOS

NEW YORK, July 13 - Simon & Schuster, Inc. announced today that it has entered into a sales and distribution agreement with BOOM! Studios. Under the agreement, Simon & Schuster will handle sales, distribution and fulfillment for all new and backlist titles to trade and specialty accounts in the United States. The agreement is effective immediately.

“BOOM! Studios has a unique line of graphic novels of wide- ranging appeal," said Michael Selleck, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Simon & Schuster. "They are an excellent fit with our existing list, and we look forward to helping them expand their presence in traditional bookselling and specialty outlets.”

"We are pleased to have BOOM! Studios join our family of distribution clients," said Joe Bulger, Vice President, Client Management and Business Development for Simon & Schuster. "We will provide them with the best support possible in order to help them grow their business.”

“Simon and Schuster is simply the best,” BOOM! Studios CEO Ross Richie said, “This is a critical step in our plan to build a mass market presence via newsstand and the book channel to represent some of the biggest and best brands in the world, such as our Pixar and Muppets comic books, as well as Farscape, Philip K. Dick's science fiction classic Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and upcoming blockbusters like Die Hard.”

Founded in 2005, BOOM! Studios publishes both periodical comic books and graphic novels. Within four months of publishing their first comic book, BOOM! Studios was named Best New Publisher by Wizard Magazine. In 2007, industry legend Mark Waid, writer of one of the best-selling graphic novels of all time, Kingdom Come, came aboard as Editor-in-Chief. BOOM!'s new imprint, BOOM! Kids, debuted to universal critical acclaim on newsstands across the nation in the spring of this year.

More information on BOOM! Studios can be found at www.boom-studios.com. The company’s new all ages imprint includes its own website, www.boom-kids.com.

Simon & Schuster, a part of CBS Corporation, is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic, and audio formats. Its divisions include Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, Simon & Schuster Audio, Simon & Schuster Digital, and international companies in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com.

2009-07-09T12:44:00.001-07:00

HORROR LEGENDS ROBERT ENGLUND AND KANE HODDER ALONG WITH SCREAM QUEEN DANIELLE HARRIS AND

SFX MASTER ROBERT HALL GET SET TO UNLEASH HELL

AT COMIC-CON 2009 TO UNVEIL FEARnet’s NEW TERRIFYING ORIGINAL WEB SERIES “FEAR CLINIC”

Master of Horror Clive Barker to Moderate “Fear Clinic” Panel Event

Friday, July 24th at 6:30pm in Room 5AB

Talent Signing, Friday, July 24th from 3:00pm- 4:00pm at FEARnet in the Sony Entertainment Booth;

FEARnet Booth Activities All Weekend Long

FEARnet Original Series Debuts in October

Los Angeles, CA – July X, 2009 – FEARnet, the world's premier online and on demand destination for horror, thriller and suspense will be bringing out the stars of their upcoming spine tingling web series “Fear Clinic”-- led by horror legends Robert Englund (Freddy Krueger of The Nightmare on Elm Street blockbuster franchise) and Kane Hodder (Jason Voorhees in the Friday the 13th franchise), scream queen Danielle Harris (Rob Zombie’s Halloween) and series director Robert Hall (Laid to Rest) -- will up the fear factor at Comic-Con 2009 with a panel event and exclusive sneak preview of the highly-buzzed about production set to premiere this October.

FEARnet is further upping the scare ante as the “Master of Horror” himself, Clive Barker (Hellraiser and Candyman franchises) will moderate the “Fear Clinic” panel event scheduled for Friday, July 24 from 6:30-7:30pm in Room 5AB. Also participating on the panel will be “Fear Clinic” executive producer Jim Burns.

During the hour long panel, Barker will lead panelists in a discussion about the making of the eerie “Fear Clinic” which follows the sinister, maniacal genius Dr. Andover (Englund) whose obsession is to cure humanity’s worst fears using a method of his creation called: The Fear Chamber -- a device that can bring any worst fear to life.

Prior to the panel, Comic-Con attendees will get to come face-to-face with the “Fear Clinic” cast and director during a talent signing from 3:00pm-4:00pm at the Sony Pictures Entertainment booth (booth #4313)

FEARnet’s “Fear Clinic” panel and autograph session are just part of the heart-pounding events and opportunities for horror, thriller and suspense fans to experience the series and all that FEARnet has to offer. Additional booth activities include:

A chance to get in on the freakiest photo opportunity at Comic-Con with the “Fear Clinic” Fear Chamber -- a "coffin-like" device which Dr. Andover uses to induce the fears from which his patients are suffering.
A scare-inducing FEARnet movie station at which attendees can download FREE cult favorite films as well as upcoming horror and thriller movie trailers onto their own personal flash drives. Movies will include: Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Clive Barker’s Candyman, Boogeyman, 2001 Maniacs and Wishmaster and original FEARnet production Catacombs.
Fun giveaways, including FEARnet flash drives to be used for their FREE movie download station, Fear Clinic TreatMINTS, energy drinks and FEARnet window clings
Exclusive first look at “Fear Clinic” teaser which will be played on HD screens throughout the weekend.

In addition to the booth activities, FEARnet is co-sponsoring the ‘Wrath of Con’ party being held at the Hard Rock Hotel on Friday night. Red carpet arrivals will begin at 7:30pm.

About Fear Clinic

Welcome to your worst fears! In “Fear Clinic,” Horror legend Robert Englund stars as the sinister, maniacal genius Dr. Andover. His obsession: to cure humanity’s worst fears. His method: the Fear Chamber, a device of his creation that can bring any worst fear to life. With Dr. Andover’s extreme methods his unwilling patients will be cured for good…or die trying.

The spine-tingling action of Fear Clinic will unfold over five webisodes. Each episode will spotlight Dr. Andover’s eerily extreme methods to help a patient at the clinic conquer their greatest fears: from hydrophobia (fear of water), scotophopia (fear of the dark), and entomophobia (fear of insects), to claustrophobia (fear of small spaces) and misophobia (fear of being contained with germs or dirt). Danielle Harris and Kane Hodder co-star. The project is directed by Robert Hall (Laid to Rest) with effects from his company Almost Human (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Quarantine, The Burrowers) from a script by Aaron R. Drane and executive produced by Mark B. Johnson and Jim Burns.

About FEARnet

FEARnet, the world's premier destination for horror, thriller and suspense, is a cutting-edge, multi-platform movie network available on demand, online and on mobile 24/7. Its unrivaled modern horror library unites Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA) (NASDAQ: CMCSK). The nation’s leader provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services with Sony Pictures Television (SPT: US) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), the two top studios producing and distributing the genre.FEARnet On Demand has generated over 327 MM views, is the #1 Comcast Free Movie VOD network and is available on Comcast, Cox Communications, Verizon FiOS, AT&T, Insight Communications, Bresnan and Guadalupe Valley Systems. www.FEARnet.com is the #1 horror website, and PC Magazine recently named FEARnet.com among “The 15 Best Websites for Movie Fans.” Users can explore the world of the macabre on a visually arresting video-rich environment packed with movies, interactive community features and fresh original content.

2009-07-09T12:41:00.001-07:00

MARK WAID HOSTS
BOOM! STUDIOS'
4 YEAR ANNIVERSARY DRINK UP!

The Only Party At Comic-Con Where Everybody Is Invited!

“Do shots with Mark Waid and find out if he truly is evil!”

July 9th, 2009 - Los Angeles, CA - BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Mark Waid cordially invites all ComicCon attendees to the BOOM! Studios 4 Year Anniversary Drink Up* taking place at the Manchester Hyatt Grand Lobby Bar, Thursday July 23rd from 9pm to ???

Come help celebrate another year of BOOM!'s explosive growth with Mark Waid, Ross Richie, Andrew Cosby, Matt Gagnon, Chip Mosher, Ian Brill and the rest of the BOOM! Crew with various BOOM! creators in attendance for a night of relaxed fun.

This is an open invitation event. No RSVP needed. No tickets required. We’re BOOM! Studios — we don’t roll that way!

Where: Manchester Hyatt Grand Lobby Bar
When: Thursday July 23rd from 9 to ??

*For those not in the know, a “Drink Up” is just like a “Meet Up” but with people drinking. This will be a gathering of friends and fans, so make plans to stop by see what's happening!

About BOOM! Studios
BOOM! Studios (www.boom-studios.com) is a unique publishing house specializing in high-profile projects across a wide variety of different genres from some of the industry's biggest talents, including Philip K. Dick's DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP?, The Henson Company's FARSCAPE, and the original Mark Waid series IRREDEEMABLE. BOOM! recently launched its youth imprint, BOOM! Kids, with Pixar's THE INCREDIBLES, CARS, and TOY STORY, as well as Disney's THE MUPPETS. This year, BOOM! Studios celebrates its fourth anniversary.

2009-07-09T12:40:00.001-07:00

ASYLUM PRESS BRINGS ITS INMATES TO COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL

(July 9, 2009-Los Angeles) Asylum Press and Girls and Corpses Magazine team up to bring you more horror and chaos than you can imagine. Asylum Press announces it will brings several inmates and some special goodies to Comicon International July 22-26, 2009. Asylum Press Booth will be #1534 near Spike and Mike's Sick and twisted Animation Festival and Publisher NBM. New books will be debuting, animation screenings, poster giveaways and sneak peaks will all be part of the madhouse at the Asylum Press booth! Come by the booth to check the schedule for signings from the following persons:

Writers

*Frank Forte (Warlash, Asylum of Horrors, Vampire Verses)

*Robert S. Rhine (Girls and Corpses, Satan's 3-Ring Circus of Hell)

Artists

Dwayne Harris (Warhammer: Crown of Destruction and the upcoming Black Powder)

Royal McGraw (Detective Comics, Batman: Battle for the Cowl: Commissioner Gordon #1)

Elizabeth J, Musgrave (Farmhouse)

Of the new books making their debut at CCI will be Steve Mannion's Fearless Dawn #1. After being cancelled by Diamond's new Threshold initiative this book is headed out of the gat with a smash. Picked up by Indy distributors Haven Distro and Tony Shenton Distribution, this book is determined to make it going the indy distribution route. Haven’t seen the hottest in retro pin up action? Visit http://www.asylumpress.com/index2.html. Another issue to be featured at CCI is Warlash:Dark Noir #3- The third an final issue of this dark superhero series concludes Featuring the talents of Frank Forte, Royal McGraw, Szymon Kudranski and J.C. Wong. You can see more about Warlash at www.asylumpress.com.

MORE INFORMATION ON BOOTH TALENT:

Robert Steven Rhine-
Robert Steven Rhine is the Founder/Publisher and Deaditor-In-Chief of Girls and Corpses Magazine. R.S. Rhine began working in comic books as a contributing staff writer for Cracked Magazine and Insidious Tales. The success of three "humorr-ific" comic books led to Rhine's 278 page, color graphic novel "SATAN'S 3 RING CIRCUS OF HELL." Forty-three of the top horror artists in the world (such as William Stout and Tim Vigil, Hilary Barta and Alan M. Clark) contributed to the book, illustrating over forty twisted Rhine tales. Rhine has sold fiction to over one hundred magazines and the published anthologies: Bram Stoker Winner: "DARK DELICACIES," (Carroll & Graf) alongside Ray Bradbury and Clive Barker...

Royal McGraw-

Royal McGraw is an award winning writer of feature film, television, and graphic novels. Royal is best known for his work on the DC Comics’ flagship title Detective Comics (Batman) and the Batman: Battle for the Cowl tie-in, Commissioner Gordon #1.
Royal is currently penning several projects, including an upcoming arc of Batman Confidential for DC Comics, Batman: Brave and the Bold for DC Kids, and several creator-owned projects.

ABOUT ASYLUM PRESS:
Founded in 1999 by Frank Forte, Asylum Press is a unique publishing house specializing in high profile projects from some of the industry's biggest names. Publishing superhero comics with Warlash: Zombie Mutant Genesis, continuing their tradition of horror with Undead Evil, Satan’s 3-Ring Circus of Hell, the upcoming Asylum of Horrors and Beyond Lovecraft, venturing into dark humor with Billy Boy The Sick Little Fat Kid and The Cletus and Floyd Show, Asylum Press co ntinues to be on the cutting edge of comic and graphic novel publishing. Asylum Press is distributed by Diamond Comics, Haven Distributors and Partners Publishers Group.

2009-07-09T12:39:00.001-07:00

Vietnam Journal returns!

Transfuzion Publishing to release
entire series in trade paperback format

Finally, the acclaimed series of Vietnam Journal from Don Lomax, nominated for a Harvey Award, will be presented in a series of graphic novels collecting the entire run. Vietnam Journal is a look at the Vietnam War through the eyes of a war journalist as it chronicles the lives and events of soldiers on the front line during the Vietnam War. Picked by Entertainment Weekly as “a graphic novel you should own" and recommended by the Military History Book Club, Vietnam Journal is written and drawn by Don Lomax, a Vietnam War veteran.

The Vietnam Journal series originally was released by Apple Comics and ran for 16 issues. Apple Comics collected the first eight issues into two trades and Byron Preiss’ iBooks collected the first six issues into their version of Vietnam Journal but Transfuzion plans to keep the trades compatible with the original storylines which were broken down into four to six issues each. The first volume of Vietnam Journal, “Indian Country” collects will run 140 pages and retail for $17.99. It will be available via Diamond Previews for October shipping.

Transfuzion Publisher, Gary Reed, said he has always been a fan of Vietnam Journal and is enthusiastic about collecting the entire series. “As a retailer when Vietnam Journal came out, it was always a great seller for us and every issue was featured in our stores because it was something that appealed to a wide audience. As a publisher (Caliber Comics), it was always a title that I wished I had published.” One of the imprints from Caliber was Tome Press which released over 70 issues of material that included historical and biographical works.

Transfuzion Publishing officially launched in the summer of 2007 and has released over 25 graphic novels including the works of H.P. Lovecraft, Sherlock Holmes, and other war related books dealing with the Zulu Wars and World War II’s Battle of the Bulge. “Vietnam Journal epitomizes what I want to do with Transfuzion,” said Reed, “in that it presents great material which is made available to new audiences, both in the comics market and outside the traditional market.”

The schedule for the release of Vietnam Journal is initially planned to be bi-monthly with the entire run of Vietnam Journal collected before compiling the follow up mini-series of Tet '68, Bloodbath at Khe Sanh, and High Shining Brass. Reed said that he would also love to collect the Desert Storm Journal that Lomax wrote and drew after the first Gulf War.

Lomax has continued the Vietnam Journal after the demise of Apple Comics. Gallery Magazine featured a monthly installment totaling 47 full color pages of Vietnam Journal and an additional 18 pages appeared in the New Two Fisted Tales by Harvey Kurtzman. Additionally, Lomax continues to provide new pages on his website which are also scheduled to be collected.

For more information on Vietnam Journal and Transfuzion Publishing, visit the website at www.transfuzion.biz where preview pages are also available.

2009-07-09T12:38:00.000-07:00

NEW TIM BURTON ORIGINAL ITEMS ARRIVE FROM DARK HORSE DELUXE!

DARK HORSE UNVEILS THE NEXT WAVE OF TRAGIC TOYS, INCLUDING 6” VINYLS, TWO NEW JOURNALS,

HEAT-SENSITIVE COFFEE MUGS, AND MORE!

The fertile imagination of Tim Burton is one of the most interesting creative resources in pop culture today. While his many films are stamped with his unique vision, cinema is an inherently collaborative process. It was therefore with great excitement and pride that Dark Horse Deluxe brought forward a merchandise program based on Burton’s most personal work – the delightfully twisted characters who populate his book The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy and Other Stories.

Springing from Burton’s sketchpads and notebooks, these charming little characters have taken on a life of their own. They are his strange little children, and although some have described them as twisted or odd, as Burton himself has observed: “One person’s craziness is another person’s reality.”

Dark Horse has collaborated closely with Burton in making many of these characters “real,” most notably in a series of faithfully sculpted miniature figures sold in boxed sets. After finding wide acceptance in the specialty market, these have been perennial sellers over the last several years.

Dark Horse Deluxe now proudly introduces large-size vinyl versions of these characters for the collector market. While the same faithful attention to detail is present, this new 6” and larger size brings forward the special nuance of each individual creation, and fits very nicely into the ever-growing popularity of “designer vinyl” collectible toys. Three releases are planned for the end of 2009: Oyster Boy, Stain Boy, and Toxic Boy.

In conjunction with this, Dark Horse is refreshing the packaging of the original boxed sets, giving the packaging a new graphic-design look and, in a reluctant bow to the increased cost of just about everything, a new suggested retail price.

The Tim Burton program is also bring updated with a variety of other new releases, including two heat-sensitive coffee mugs, a pull-tab journal that animates a Burton watercolor scene, a new light-up journal, playing cards, T-shirts and note cards in light-up boxes.

“Dark Horse Deluxe has been privileged to work with many of today’s popular-culture giants,” VP of Product Development David Scroggy remarked, “but there is no one who we get excited about more than Tim Burton. These characters are almost like his little children, and we are grateful that he trusts us with them. We have always told Tim that our mission with this program is to bring forward his artistic vision, and we take that responsibility seriously. The new items are a step forward on that journey, and while we don’t know exactly where it will lead us, we are certainly having some fun along the way.”

As a capstone to a storied, ongoing career, Tim Burton is to be recognized with a career retrospective show at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The exhibit will run from November 2009 through March 2010. Dark Horse Deluxe products will be available at the museum, and the original sculpture maquettes for the figures will be a part of the installation. With previously unseen characters being exhibited, it is likely that selected pieces will find their way into the merchandise line as Burton deems appropriate.

2009-07-09T10:13:00.001-07:00

OWLY ANIMATED SHORT TO DEBUT AT COMIC-CON '09
**************************************************************

Top Shelf Productions and Sprite Animation Studios team up
to bring beloved graphic novel character to life.

SAN DIEGO, July 9th, 2009 – Owly, the kindhearted star of the
award-winning graphic novel series by Andy Runton, will come
to life in an animated short at the San Diego Comic-Con
on July 23-26.

It was jointly announced today by Chris Staros, Publisher of
Top Shelf Productions and Junichi Yanagihara, Executive
Producer at Sprite Animation Studios that the loveable Owly
and his unlikely best friend Wormy will be animated in a
brand-new original segment directed by Moto Sakakibara and
storyboarded by creator Andy Runton. Prominently featured
will be Runton's innovative "Pictomation," a storytelling
device in which the characters' thoughts and feelings are
animated with iconic and expressive images rather than
dialogue, enabling fans of all ages, languages,
and backgrounds to enjoy the show.

"I'm absolutely overjoyed to be working with the entire Sprite
team. Over the past months, we've worked very closely to make
sure Owly was faithfully translated to 3D. Every little detail
was important to them, and the end result blows me away!
They've created an animation that captures the pure essence
of Owly in ways I never thought possible. It's amazing to
see Owly and Wormy come to life like this. The level of
artistry at Sprite is incredible." said creator Andy Runton.

"I am very passionate about the world of 'Owly' and its pure,
honest, and adorable star. It is such a blessing to be able
to bring Owly to new audiences who have not yet been touched
by these wonderful stories," said director Moto Sakakibara.

Fans can visit the Top Shelf Productions booth (#1721) during
the convention to see the short and to speak with members of
the Sprite and Top Shelf teams, as well as meet Andy Runton,
who will be there signing graphic novels, doing sketches,
and talking to fans from around the world.

Owly's foray into animation comes at a time of big changes for
the little "bird of play." Following the re-release of all
five Owly trade paperbacks with newly painted covers; a new
line of T-shirts; a new supply of plushies; a brand new
American Library Association poster and bookmark celebrating
Owly's support for libraries nationwide; the creation of an
extensive collection of lesson plans for the use of Owly in
classrooms; the release of all five Owly trade paperbacks on
Amazon's Kindle, and the announcement that Top Shelf and
Andy Runton have entered into an agreement with
Simon & Schuster to publish two Owly picture books,
starting with Owly & Wormy in Friends All Aflutter in 2011,
Owly is on the move.

For more information, please visit:
http://www.spriteanimation.com/owly

§§

Sprite Animation Studios is a Los Angeles-based boutique CGI
animation house internationally known for its unique, funky
style, and creativity. Sprite's high-quality work has been
featured in theatrical films, television series, and
festival venues such as Annecy, the SIGGRAPH Electronic
Theater, Ottawa, and Pictoplasma.

Top Shelf Productions is the graphic novel and comics
publisher best known for its ability to discover and showcase
the vanguard of the comics scene. Since 1997, Top Shelf has
produced over two hundred graphic novels and comics that have
helped to revitalize interest in comics as a literary art form.

Andy Runton and his award-winning Owly series have been
quietly leading the charge in the field of all-ages graphic
novels since 2004. Relying on a mixture of symbols, icons,
and expressions to tell his silent stories, Runton's work
showcases both his gift for characterization and his love
of nature. His animated and heartwarming style has made him
a favorite of both fans and critics alike and the Owly series
has earned him multiple awards including the Howard E. Day
Memorial Prize, the Harvey Award, two Ignatz Awards, and the
2006 Eisner Award for "Best Publication for a Younger Audience".

*******************************************************

See y'all at Comic-Con!

Chris Staros
Top Shelf Productions

2009-07-09T10:10:00.001-07:00

Meet the Mighty Hand of “The Maker” with New Screens from

Vogster Entertainment’s UNBOUND SAGA!

The pen is mightier than the sword…especially when it is wielded by the hand of “The Maker”, the ubiquitous entity that shapes every battle in Vogster Entertainment’s UNBOUND SAGA available just in time for this year’s San Diego Comic Con! The bizarre foes Rick Ajax and Lori Machete face don’t just create themselves, they spring from “The Maker’s” evil hand (and twisted imagination) and onto your PSP® (PlayStation®Portable).

A full gallery of new screens featuring “The Maker” ruining Rick Ajax’s day are available now for the anticipated arcade style brawler UNBOUND SAGA.

The UNBOUND SAGA video game is based on Dark Horse’s comic book of the same name and follows the adventures of self-aware comic book tough guy Rick Ajax, as he battles the constant and cataclysmic threats that are put in his path by the god-like entity known as ‘The Maker’. With cover art by illustration icon, Joe Linsner (Cry for Dawn, Dark Ivory) original story by comic book veteran Mike Kennedy (Star Wars, Superman, Alien vs Predator) and art by fan-favorite Cliff Richards (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Wonder Woman, The New Thunderbolts), UNBOUND SAGA combines comic book action with button throttling gameplay that leads players through level after level of imaginative landscapes and bizarre foes. For more information, please visit www.unboundsaga.com or join the Unbound Saga group on Facebook.

UNBOUND SAGA is rated ‘T’ for Teen/ 16+ (PEGI), will retail for $14.99/ €14.99 and will be available exclusively for the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system via digital download on the PlayStation Network July 16, 2009 in North America and in Europe July 23, 2009.

2009-07-09T10:09:00.000-07:00

Win a pair of tickets to the exclusive Radical Event at the Hard Rock

July 8th, 2009, LOS ANGELES – Coinciding with the weekend of San Diego Comic-Con 2009, Radical Publishing, Gene Simmons and Nick Simmons will be hosting THE RADICAL EVENT AT THE HARD ROCK HOTEL in San Diego; An exclusive invitation-only rock concert extravaganza promoting the release of Nick Simmons’ first comic book title Incarnate. The event will feature live performances by Gene and Nick Simmons as well as a surprise performance from some very special guests.

The event will be filmed by A&E TV, who will also be filming around Radical booth #3735, and will air on the hit television show GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS.

To win 2 free tickets to this event and be a part of the action, simply email contest@radicalcomics.com answering the simple question: “What is your favorite Radical Publishing character and why?”

The contest winner will be featured in a special-edition post-event newsletter, and will receive a special Incarnate prize package at the event.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity of a lifetime!

About Radical Publishing

Radical Publishing is founded by Barry Levine (producer for Hercules, Caliber, Freedom Formula and executive producer for the in-development Rex Mundi movie for Warner Bros., written by Jim Uhls and starring Johnny Depp) and his protégé Jesse Berger (executive producer for Hercules, Caliber and Freedom Formula).

For their quality and excellence in 2008, retailers voted Radical Publishing the Gem Award for “Best New Publisher of the Year” from Diamond Comic Distributors. Radical brings the best writing, storytelling and fully painted cover and interior art to the global comic book market, from prominent international talents such as Yoshitaka Amano, John Bolton, Luis Royo, Jim Steranko, Steve Pugh, Warren Ellis, Arthur Suydam, Steve Niles, Jimmy Palmiotti, Flint Dille, Marko Djurdjevic, Ian Edginton, David Hine, Rick Remender, Joseph Kosinski, Nick Percival, Steve Moore, Sam Sarkar, Stjepan Sejic, Dave Wilkins, Tomm Coker, Clayton Crain, Bill Sienkiewicz, Nick Sagan, Clint Langley, Nick Simmons, Patrick Reilly, Weta Workshop, Zombie Studios and many more.

Radical Publishing currently has production deals with Universal Studios, Spyglass Entertainment, Peter Berg’s Film 44 and Radical Pictures for Hercules; Johnny Depp's Infinitum Nihil and Radical Pictures for Caliber; and New Regency, Bryan Singer’s Bad Hat Harry Productions and Radical Pictures for Freedom Formula.

2009-07-08T15:48:00.001-07:00

PRESS RELEASE – THE SOLD-OUT EXISTENCE 2.0 #1 LIVES AGAIN ONLINE THANKS TO IMAGE COMICS AND COMIC BOOK RESOURCES!
The entire first issue of EXISTENCE 2.0 made available on Comic Book Resources!

8 July 2009 (Berkeley, CA) – After EXISTENCE 2.0’s first issue faced a complete distribution-level sell out Image Comics, writer Nick Spencer and illustrator Ronald Salas bring their noir crime thriller online thanks to a partnership with Comic Book Resources.

"EXISTENCE 2.0 is a very different book, combining crime noir with hard edge science fiction that’s an absolute must read for any fan of TRANSMETROPOLITAN and CRIMINAL," Image Comics Partner Jim Valentino said. “When the news of the sell out came in we knew we had to get the book in front of as many eyes as possible. Luckily the people at Comic Book Resources were very enthusiastic and gave our first issue a home."

EXISTENCE 2.0 is set in motion when less than ethical physicist, Sylvester Baladine, is assassinated and has his consciousness transferred into the body of his killer. Life isn’t all bad considering his new body is younger, better looking, and still possesses all of the talents of a life-long trained killer. That is, until he finds out that the same group of assasins that plotted his death have taken the one thing he held dear in his previous life – his daughter. Now Sylvester must return to his past to find out who ordered his assassination and what they want with his daughter. There’s only one problem – a lot of people wanted him dead!

EXISTENCE 2.0 #1 is online on Comic Book Resources today, July 8th, 2009. EXISTENCE 2.0 #2 (JUN090380), a 32-page full color comic book for $3.50, will be in stores August 5th, 2009.

Image Comics is a comics and graphic novels publisher formed in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Since that time, Image has gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. There are currently five partners in Image Comics (Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri, and Jim Valentino), and Image is currently divided into four major houses (Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, and Image Central). Image comics and graphic novels cover nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable, offering science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor, and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. Visit www.imagecomics.com.

2009-07-08T15:47:00.001-07:00

ATARI AND CRYPTIC STUDIOS BATTLE THEIR WAY INTO THE SUPER HERO UNIVERSE WITH CHAMPIONS ONLINE FOR PC

Thrilling new title gives superhero fans opportunity to become first-of-a-kind superheroes through unique customization tool.

(New York, NY) - Atari, Inc., one of the world’s most recognized videogame publishers, and Cryptic

Studios™, creators of the acclaimed City of Heroes and City of Villain, are giving Super Hero fans the

power they’ve been craving with Champions Online for PC. Based on the award winning Champions

setting from the HERO System of pen & paper role playing games and powered by the groundbreaking

Cryptic Engine, Champions Online taps into the rich universe of heroes and villains with unparalleled

intrigue and adventure.

Cryptic Studios, already a leading developer and publisher of massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), has taken the genre to new heights with Champions Online’s fast paced, “real time” action combat. Through Champions’ unique character customization tool the player can create their own characters as one-of-a-kind superheroes, where gamers can choose from thousands of costumes, body types, power sets, and character appearances.

While players transform into the ultimate hero, the Nemesis system lets Champions Online’s powerful customization tools craft an enemy of the extreme opposite, a villain of nightmares. This ultimate adversary will appear throughout a hero’s career, and even form diabolic super groups to bedevil other players throughout the universe. Champions Online brings epic heroism back to the MMORPG genre with depth that will certainly challenge the most experienced online gamers, while its fast paced action promises to engage new entrants to the online superhero universe.

Be among the first to experience this first of a kind online super hero gaming universe by taking part in the open beta. Additionally, this thrilling title is available on pre-order at Wal-Mart, GameStop, Best Buy, and Amazon. Champions Online promises to redefine online gaming with the power Super Hero fans have been craving. The only question is… What hero will you be?

About Infogrames Entertainment and Atari

The Infogrames group, including the Atari brand and the massively multiplayer online game company Cryptic Studios, is a global producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment software for all market segments and all interactive game platforms including consoles from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony, advanced smartphones, Personal Computers, web and online. Its games are sold in more than 60 countries through an international distribution network and direct to consumers via www.atari.com.

Atari’s extensive catalogue of popular games is based on original franchises (Test Drive, Alone in the Dark, V-Rally, My Horse & Me, Backyard Sports franchise, Total Annihilation, Outcast etc.), Cryptic Studios titles (StarTrek Online, Champions Online), publishing properties (Ghostbusters, The Chronicles of Riddick, The Witcher, Race Pro etc.), international licenses (Dragon Ball Z, Dungeons & Dragons, Jamie Oliver etc.) and classic games covering the entire history of the video game industry (Pong, Missile Command, Asteroids etc).

© 2009 Atari Europe SASU. All rights reserved.

Atari word mark and logo are trademarks owned by Atari Interactive, Inc.

About Cryptic Studios

Based in Los Gatos, CA, Cryptic Studios is a leading developer of massively multiplayer online games committed to delivering the next level of MMO gameplay. Cryptic develops AAA titles for PC and consoles, including Star Trek Online and Champions Online. For more information on Cryptic Studios, please visit the official website at: www.crypticstudios.com.

2009-07-08T15:46:00.001-07:00

Kamen Rider Dragon Knight Rides Into San Diego Comic-Con International With

Special Panel Presentation And Screening

Kamen Rider TV Producer To Make Major Announcement Regarding The Series

For Immediate Release:

Los Angeles (July 8, 2009) – The hit live action series Kamen Rider Dragon Knight will hold a special panel presentation and screening at San Diego Comic-Con International set for Sunday, July 26 from 2:45 to 3:45pm at Room 6DE. There will also be an autograph session on the same day from 1-2pm in the autograph area of the convention center. Airing Saturdays at 10:30am on The CW4Kids, Kamen Rider Dragon Knight quickly moved to the top tier of new kids’ series, attracting solid audiences as well as positive reviews from leading online and traditional media.

The Kamen Rider Comic-Con presentation kicks off with never-before-seen footage from upcoming Kamen Rider Dragon Knight episodes, followed by a panel session featuring stars Stephen Lunsford (Kit/Kamen Rider Dragon Knight), Matt Mullins (Len/Kamen Rider Wing Knight), Yvonne Arias (Maya), Scott Bailey (JTC/Kamen Rider Strike), William O’Leary (General Xaviax) and members of the series’ award-winning creative team including directors Steve and Mike Wang. The event closes with an audience Q&A and a raffle drawing awarding 200 Bandai bags including action figures from the eagerly anticipated Kamen Rider toy line and Kamen Rider packs that include a backpack, cap, and t-shirt. All in attendance will be able to take home a Comic-Con exclusive Kamen Rider Dragon Knight poster. In addition, Riders Dragon Knight and Wing Knight will make a special appearance in full Kamen Rider gear for photo ops. Fans will also have the chance to meet the cast and get signed “Advent Card” photo cards and Comic-Con exclusive posters during an autograph session with the cast taking place from 1-2pm in the autograph area of the convention.

Produced by leading Japanese entertainment studio Adness Entertainment, Kamen Rider Dragon Knight follows the heroic adventures of teenager Kit Taylor, who discovers a mysterious deck of Advent Cards that grant him the power to transform into an ancient armored warrior called a Kamen Rider. He joins his comrade, Kamen Rider Wing Knight, to battle the alien renegade warlord, General Xaviax, and his army in both the real world and an alternate reality called Ventara, or the Mirror World.

2009-07-08T11:57:00.000-07:00

Cartoon Network and Adult Swim Series Panels and Events Lineup

for 2009 Comic-Con International

Cartoon Network and Adult Swim announces a number of panels, fan events and signings at 2009 Comic-Con International in San Diego, Calif., Thursday, July 23 - Sunday, July 26, 2009. All times, dates and locations subject to change.

CARTOON NETWORK AND ADULT SWIM PANELS

THURSDAY, JULY 23

ADULT SWIM: Robot Chicken w/ Titan Maximum

3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Location: 6A

Moderator: Keith Crofford, vice president of production Adult Swim

Seth Green (co-creator, Robot Chicken and Titan Maximum), Matthew Senreich (co-creator, Robot Chicken and Titan Maximum), Tom Root (head writer, Robot Chicken/co-creator, Titan Maximum) and Doug Goldstein (head writer, Robot Chicken) with Chris McKay, Breckin Meyer, Kevin Shinick, Mike Fasolo and Dan Milano discuss the popular Adult Swim series Robot Chicken. They also discuss the upcoming new stop-motion animated series Titan Maximum, slated to premiere on Adult Swim this fall.

CARTOON NETWORK COMEDY – ORIGINAL ANIMATION

4:15 – 5:15 p.m.

Location: 6A

Moderator: Brian Miller, senior vice president and general manager Cartoon Network Studios

Come join us for a panel celebrating three of the best comedies from Cartoon Network Studios. First up is a sweet treat with Chowder, including special guests C.H. Greenblatt (creator), Tara Strong (voice of Truffles) and Dana Snyder (voice of Gazpacho). Then set sail with The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack and creator Thurop Van Orman (voice of Flapjack) and Steve Little (writer, voice of fan favorite Dr. Barber). Finally, hold on to your seats for a sneak peak of the new series, Adventure Time with Finn and Jake, with creator Pendelton Ward.

FRIDAY, JULY 24

WB PANEL: BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD

10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Location: 6B

Moderator: Sam Register, executive producer

Gotham takes over San Diego as Diedrich Bader (Surf's Up), the voice of Batman, returns to headline a panel alongside John DiMaggio (Futurama), the voice of Aquaman, executive producer Sam Register (Teen Titans), producer James Tucker (Justice League Unlimited), producer and story editor Michael Jelenic (The Batman) and voice director Andrea Romano (Superman Doomsday). Fans will enjoy a discussion and lively Q&A as this dynamic and creative team look back upon the show's incredible first season and provide an exclusive look at what season two holds for the Caped Crusader. From Warner Bros. Animation, Batman: The Brave and the Bold airs on Cartoon Network.

LUCASFILM PANEL: Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Building the Universe

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Location: 7 AB

The Clone Wars expanded the scope of Star Wars beyond anything seen in the feature films – but Season One was just the beginning. Get a rare glimpse into the epic scale of the ongoing galactic conflict with supervising director Dave Filoni and key production staff from the series. Find out insider secrets about building the Star Wars galaxy, making the first season of the groundbreaking series and what’s to come in Season Two!

LUCASFILM PANEL: Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Behind the mic

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

Location: 7 AB

Season Two of Star Wars: The Clone Wars is coming in hot, and you can believe that the talented voice cast has something to say about it! Join supervising director Dave Filoni as he talks with the actors behind your favorite Clone Wars characters, and get an intimate look at the animated antics inside the recording studio - as well as some unique and exclusive insights into what's coming this Fall!

The BBC PANEL: THE MIGHTY BOOSH

4:45 – 5:45 p.m.

Location: 6A

Cult comedy favorite and BAFTA-nominated, The Mighty Boosh, comes to Comic-Con for the first time to celebrate the airing of all three seasons on Adult Swim, and the BBC’s DVD release, just two days before the convention begins. Inspired by the Perrier Comedy Award-winning live comedy show, creators-stars Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding, along with actors Michael Fielding, Rich Fulcher and Dave Brown. The hit UK comedy series follows crazy zookeepers Howard Moon and Vince Noir and was described by The San Jose Mercury News as “an acid-trip fantasy-comedy [that] is seriously deranged and seriously funny.”

LUCASFILM PANEL: The Star Wars Spectacular

5:15 – 6:15 p.m.

Location: Hall H

Get all the latest news from the Star Wars universe – including some of Lucasfilm’s most tightly-guarded secrets! Join our galaxy of guests from The Clone Wars and beyond, including supervising director Dave Filoni, voice talent from the show and more!

SATURDAY, JULY 25

CARTOON NETWORK ACTION ADVENTURE ANIMATION: BEN 10

11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

Location: 6DE

Moderator: Tramm Wigzell director of development, original series Cartoon Network

It’s all about Ben 10 at this panel featuring director Alex Winter and cast members Ryan Kelley (Ben), Galadriel Stineman (Gwen), Nathan Keyes (Kevin) and Alyssa Diaz (Elena) from the live-action movie Ben 10: Alien Swarm coming this fall on Cartoon Network. Also appearing are Ben 10 Alien Force producer Glenn Murakami, story editor Dwayne McDuffie and Yuri Lowenthal (voice of Ben). Make sure not to miss an exclusive look at what’s coming next with a sneak peak of Generator Rex and the first images from the upcoming series, Sym-Bionic Titan, by creator Genndy Tartakovsky (Samurai Jack, Dexter’s Laboratory).

ADULT SWIM: Series Development and The Venture Bros.

6:00 – 7:15 p.m.

Location: 6DE

Moderator: Keith Crofford, vice president of production Adult Swim

Fans will get the chance to hear from the Adult Swim development team and get a first look at upcoming Adult Swim programming. Nick Weidenfeld, director of development for Adult Swim and Matt Harrigan, executive producer/series writer for Adult Swim will give highlights of what’s in the tube for fall 2009. Then, Jackson Publick (co-creator), Doc Hammer (co-creator), Jon Schnepp (co-director), James Urbaniak (voice of Dr. Venture) and Mike Sinterniklaas (voice of Dean Venture) discuss the hit animated Adult Swim series The Venture Bros. and give fans insight into the future of the series.

SUNDAY, JULY 26

MATTEL PANEL: Hot Wheels Battle Force 5

12:00-1:00

Location: 7AB

Hot Wheels Battle Force 5: World Premiere! - Be the first to see an episode of the all new CG-animated series, Hot Wheels Battle Force 5! The series starts this August on Cartoon Network and tells the story of a group of teen drivers and their 5 ultra-cool, ultra-fast vehicles. Their mission is to protect the Earth from The Sark, an army of evil robots, and The Vandals, a species of super-predators. After the screening, join producer Audu Paden (Spider-Man: The New Animated Series), director Johnny Darrell (Storm Hawks) and real-life Hot Wheels car designers for a behind-the-scenes peek at how the series was created. There will also be plenty of fun activities, trivia, and lots and lots of great prizes!

WB PANEL: Zoinks! Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins

12:30 – 2:30 p.m.

Location: 6DE
Moderator: TBA

Come join everyone’s favorite Great Dane as Warner Premiere & Cartoon Network present Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins. The all-new, live-action/CGI film reveals the origins of the Mystery Inc. gang on their first mission together. Be the first to witness the film, then stay for a fun-filled panel featuring director Brian Levant (Beethoven, Snow Dogs), producer Brian Gilbert (Wrong Turn, Skinwalkers) and introducing the all-new live-action cast: Robbie Amell (Life With Derek, True Jackson VP) as Fred, Kate Melton as Daphne, Hayley Kiyoko as Velma and Nick Palatas as Shaggy. Also expected to attend is Frank Welker, a member of the original Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! voice-cast, who provides the voice of Scooby-Doo for Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins – which will premiere on Cartoon Network and be distributed by Warner Home Video in Fall 2009.

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ADULT SWIM SIGNINGS

Adult Swim Booth: 3351

Friday, July 24

2:00 – 3:00 p.m. The Mighty Boosh Signing – Adult Swim Booth #3351
Noel Fielding, Julian Barrett, Michael Fielding, Dave Brown, Richard Fulcher

4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Robot Chicken Signing – Adult Swim Booth #3351
Seth Green, Matt Senreich, Breckin Meyer, Chris McKay

Saturday, July 25

12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Robot Chicken Signing – Adult Swim Booth #3351
Seth Green, Matt Senreich, Doug Goldstein, Tom Root

3:00 – 4:00 p.m. The Venture Bros. Signing – Adult Swim Booth #3351
Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer

ADULT SWIM FAN EVENTS

TIM & ERIC AWESOME SHOW PERFORMANCE

Friday, July 24, 7 p.m.

Location: 4th and B, 345 B Street

Enjoy a live performance featuring Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim. Much like the television series on Adult Swim, the live show is a fast-paced, variety show, complete with short films, parodies, pranks and musical numbers.

The BBC AND ADULT SWIM PRESENT: THE MIGHTY BOOSH BASH (A full cast DJ Set)

Friday, July 24, 11 p.m.

Location: 4th and B, 345 B Street

A multi-media DJ set house party featuring the full cast of The Mighty Boosh, including Noel Fielding and Julian Barrett. The cast will spin records and perform bits. For more information, go to www.themightyboosh.co.uk

TIM AND ERIC AWESOME-CON 2009

Saturday, July 25, 12 -3 p.m.

Location: Embarcadero Marina Park North

Picnic in the park hosted by Tim and Eric and other characters from the show with fan challenges (costume contest, karaoke contest, etc).

ROBOT CHICKEN FAN EVENT

Saturday, July 25, 8 – 11p.m.

Location: Skate San Diego, 700 East 24th Street, National City, CA 91950

Join Robot Chicken creators and executive producers Seth Green and Matt Senreich for a special preview party - Comic Con Style - kicking off their two week roller skating tour to promote the release of the Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II DVD. The free, all ages party is open to the public and will feature a guest DJ, special Robot Chicken guests, including the show’s writers and producers, celebrity guest stars, Robot Chicken-themed activities and games, and exclusive Adult Swim merchandise.

CARTOON NETWORK SIGNINGS

Thursday, July 23

5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Chowder & The Misadventures of Flapjack Signing - Autograph Alley
Chowder: C.H. Greenblatt, Tara Strong, Dana Snyder

The Misadventures of Flapjack: Thurop Van Orman, Steve Little

Saturday, July 25

2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Ben 10 Alien Force Signing – Autograph Alley
Glen Murakami, Yuri Lowenthal, Dwight McDuffie

3:30 – 5:00 p.m. Ben 10: Alien Swarm Cast Signing – Autograph Alley
Ryan Kelley (Ben), Galadriel Stineman (Gwen), Nathan Keyes (Kevin)

Alyssa Diaz (Elena)

Sunday, July 26

10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Scooby Doo! The Mystery Begins Signing – WB Booth
Robbie Amell (Fred), Kate Melton (Daphne), Hayley Kiyoko (Velma),

Nick Palatas (Shaggy)

Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com), currently seen in more than 97 million U.S. homes and 166 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s ad-supported cable service now available in HD offering the best in original, acquired and classic entertainment for youth and families. Nightly from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (ET, PT), Cartoon Network shares its channel space with Adult Swim, a late-night destination showcasing original and acquired animation for young adults 18-34.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

2009-07-08T10:19:00.001-07:00

PRESS RELEASE - THE WALKING DEAD FLIPS THE SOLD OUT CHEW #1 THIS JULY!

The fan-favorite undead meets the sold out cannibalistic clairvoyants in THE WALKING DEAD #63/CHEW #1 Flipbook!

7 July 2009 (Berkeley, CA) – CHEW’s sell-out sensations, writer John Layman and illustrator Rob Guillory, are teaming up with Image Comics veteran Robert Kirkman to bring their sold out first issue to the masses in a very special black and white full issue flipbook in the upcoming WALKING DEAD #63 at no additional charge!

"As a creator, there's nothing more satisfying than hearing that a lot of people are interested in reading your book. The flip side of this is there's nothing more frustrating than hearing how people can't get a hold of your book to read," Layman said. "So, Image and Robert Kirkman concocted this great plan to put CHEW in a lot of people hands-- and for the unbeatable low, low price of 'free'."

CHEW's star, Detective Tony Chu, is a cop with a secret. As a Cibopath, Detective Chu gets a psychic impression from whatever he eats. While it means he's a hell of a Detective if he can stomach the evidence, once his secret gets out the government makes plans for him, whether he likes it or not. CHEW blends horror, mystery and the strangest ability of them all in an ongoing series of horrific crimes solved in the most horrific way possible.

Layman added, "If you're remotely interested in seeing for yourself what all the CHEW buzz is about, this is your chance. Of course, the black & white preview does not do justice to Rob Guillory's magnificent colors in the regular book, so if you like what you read in THE WALKING DEAD, you'll have opportunity to buy third and second printings of issues #1 and #2 when #3 hits the stores on August 5th!"

WALKING DEAD #63 (MAY090359), a 48-page black and white comic book for $2.99 featuring the entireity of CHEW #1 at no additional charge, will be in-stores July 17th, 2009.

Image Comics is a comics and graphic novels publisher formed in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Since that time, Image has gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. There are currently five partners in Image Comics (Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri, and Jim Valentino), and Image is currently divided into four major houses (Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, and Image Central). Image comics and graphic novels cover nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable, offering science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor, and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. Visit www.imagecomics.com.

2009-07-08T10:18:00.001-07:00

"SPARKS PART 2", the first-ever iPhone/ iTouch motion comic book with lip-synch——released by Catastrophic Comics

Voiced by Hollywood actors Michael Paré, William Katt, and Michael Bell

(July 8, 2009) Los Angeles—"Sparks Part 2,” the first motion comic book with lip-synch, created specifically for the iPhone and iTouch, is proudly presented by Catastrophic Comics. The SPARKS PART 2 Application, which includes original artwork, in addition to the original motion comic, can be downloaded for 99 cents at the iTunes Store (keywords: "Sparks Part 2" or "Catastrophic Comics"). A superhero noir-thriller that was published as a comic book series in 2008, “Sparks” bridges the gap between the printed page and full-fledged animation.

"Part 2” is voiced by actors Michael Paré ("Eddie and the Cruisers"), Michael Bell ("Transformers"), Charlie Brill ("Star Trek"), Kevin Sherwood ("Gamers"), Courtenay Taylor (“Justice League Heroes”), and Ashley Bell ("United States of Tara").

Here the direct link to Sparks Part 2 for sale on iTUNES:

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=313631847&mt=8

Here is a direct link to a video featuring William Katt introducing a sneak peak of Sparks Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6ORHEZRWfs

"This won't be Robot Chicken style, where they draw the mouths moving, which, for the record, I love Robot Chicken. However, our Animation Director, Sean Ruge, did an amazing job perfecting the lip-synch. It really adds to the overall story without looking like a big bowl of cheese", commented William Katt, co-owner and executive producer of Catastrophic Comics.

"Sparks Part 2 will be a standard for this genre for a very long time. This is the future of comics and it will reach a whole new audience which a traditional comic book is incapable of doing", stated Christopher Folino, writer and co-director of the Sparks series.

For more information contact chris@sideshowproduction.com

To learn more about the comic book creators, visit us at:

www.catastrophiccomics.com

www.sideshowproduction.com

2009-07-08T10:16:00.001-07:00

RADICAL PUBLISHING HOSTS GENE SIMMONS AND NICK SIMMONS FOR SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON 2009

July 7th, 2009, LOS ANGELES – Radical Publishing is proud and excited to host rock legend Gene Simmons and his son Nick Simmons, star of Gene Simmons Family Jewels, at SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL 2009 where they will be signing copies of Radical’s newest comic book title, Incarnate #1, created, written and penciled by Nick Simmons.

Premiering at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con International, Incarnate is the brainchild of Nick Simmons and stands as Radical’s watershed American Manga title. Incarnate tells the story of Revenants - immortal, indestructible, ageless creatures that have existed since time immemorial. Centuries ago, the Revenant known as Mot was worshipped as a God. Now, he walks the Earth in search of a purpose to his immortality – but when a secret society discovers a way to kill Revenants, Mot and his fellow immortals must make a choice: Hunt or be hunted.

In addition, Gene and Nick Simmons will be at the Radical Event at the Hard Rock taking place during San Diego Comic-Con International. The Radical event will feature Gene Simmons and very special guests onstage performing followed by a landmark jam session. A&E television will be filming the event for an upcoming episode of Gene Simmons Family Jewels.

“Nick’s work on Incarnate has been nothing less than incredible and we’re excited to premiere it at this year’s Comic-Con International.” said Radical President and Publisher Barry Levine. “Here at Radical, we pride ourselves on fostering creativity, talent and quality – and the Simmons family has that in spades. Both are huge comic fans and it’s our pleasure and privilege to host them this year for both the Incarnate signings and the Radical Event at the Hard Rock.”

Gene Simmons and Nick Simmons will be signing on July 23rd, July 24th and July 25th at the Radical Publishing booth. Nick Simmons will also appear at the Radical Publishing Creators Panel on FRIDAY, JULY 24TH from 12:00 P.M. to 1:00 P.M. in Room 4.

Radical Publishing Booth #3735

Thursday
3:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M.

Friday
2:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M.

Saturday
1:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M.

Incarnate #1 appears in the June 2009 Diamond Previews catalog, to ship in August 2009 and features a cover by popular Runaways and Buffy the Vampire Slayer cover artist Jo Chen (Diamond Code: JUN091053).

About Radical Publishing

Radical Publishing is founded by Barry Levine (producer for Hercules, Caliber, Freedom Formula and executive producer for the in-development Rex Mundi movie for Warner Bros., written by Jim Uhls and starring Johnny Depp) and his protégé Jesse Berger (executive producer for Hercules, Caliber and Freedom Formula).

For their quality and excellence in 2008, retailers voted Radical Publishing the Gem Award for “Best New Publisher of the Year” from Diamond Comic Distributors. Radical brings the best writing, storytelling and fully painted cover and interior art to the global comic book market, from prominent international talents such as Yoshitaka Amano, John Bolton, Luis Royo, Jim Steranko, Steve Pugh, Warren Ellis, Arthur Suydam, Steve Niles, Jimmy Palmiotti, Flint Dille, Marko Djurdjevic, Ian Edginton, David Hine, Rick Remender, Joseph Kosinski, Nick Percival, Steve Moore, Sam Sarkar, Stjepan Sejic, Dave Wilkins, Tomm Coker, Clayton Crain, Bill Sienkiewicz, Nick Sagan, Clint Langley, Nick Simmons, Patrick Reilly, Weta Workshop, Zombie Studios and many more.

Radical Publishing currently has production deals with Universal Studios, Spyglass Entertainment, Peter Berg’s Film 44 and Radical Pictures for Hercules; Johnny Depp's Infinitum Nihil and Radical Pictures for Caliber; and New Regency, Bryan Singer’s Bad Hat Harry Productions and Radical Pictures for Freedom Formula.

2009-07-08T10:15:00.001-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Epic Tales of Monkey Islandâ¢ pirate adventure premieres today!

Swashbuckling saga over five months begins now at www.telltalegames.com

SAN RAFAEL, CA, July 7, 2009 â Arrrrr! Polish up your swashbuckles and grab your sword, because legendary pirate Guybrush Threepwood sets sail today on the first all-new Monkey IslandÂ® adventure in over a decade. Telltaleâs highly anticipated game series, Tales of Monkey Island, begins now at www.telltalegames.com for PC with âLaunch of the Screaming Narwhal,â the first chapter in an epic five-month adventure created by the same team responsible for acclaimed episodic seriesâ including Sam & Max, Wallace & Gromitâs Grand Adventures and Strong Badâs Cool Game for Attractive People. The first Tales of Monkey Island chapter is expected to release for WiiWareâ¢ in the coming weeks as well.

The saga begins with a heated battle involving the brave but often bumbling Mighty Pirateâ¢ Guybrush, his beloved wife Elaine, and their nemesis, the demon pirate LeChuck. When the showdown goes up in flames, Guybrush finds himself marooned on a strange island with winds that always blow inward. How will our hero manage to escape this meteorological anomaly? What has become of LeChuck and Elaine? And whatâs the story with the infectious voodoo pox thatâs spreading across the Caribbean, causing Guybrush and other pirates to act like unruly hooligans? These are just some of the many questions posed in this first chapter of what will become one of the most rollicking and rip-roaring entertainment experiences of the summer.

Dave Grossman, Telltaleâs design director and a designer/writer for the original Monkey Island games says âI was laughing my eyepatch off on a daily basis while we were first cooking up Monkey Island at Skywalker Ranch, but if youâd told me then that it would become a classic, and that twenty years later Iâd be working with a killer all-star piratey crew to spin an epic new tale and bring the series to a whole new generation of players, I would have saidâ¦ well, probably, âLook behind you, a three-headed monkey,â but then Iâve always been a bit weird that way.â

Tales of Monkey Island will unfold over the next five months, with each episodic chapter raising the stakes on Guybrushâs quest to eradicate the insidious Pox of LeChuck, reunite with his wife, and vanquish his rival. Much like the best television and films series, the story becomes deeper and more engrossing with interweaving threads building to twists and surprises in the grand finale this fall.

Customers who order from Telltaleâs online store during the first week of availability can choose any other Telltale episode of their choice to include free with their purchase. Visit www.telltalegames.com/monkeyisland to get into the adventure now. Additional Tales of Monkey Island details, gameplay trailers, and a playable demo are also available at the site.

About Telltale, Inc.

Telltale is the first and only company to release interactive episodic content on a monthly schedule. Their landmark Sam & Max series, based on the independent comics by Steve Purcell, paved the way for episodic gaming with two award-winning seasons on PC, Wii, and Xbox LIVEÂ® Arcade. Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People, based on the Homestarrunner.com web cartoons, soon followed as the first episodic series for WiiWareâ¢. Telltale's Wallace & Gromit's Grand Adventures is now releasing monthly on PC, as well as on Xbox LIVE Arcade.

Telltale's other games include two installments in Ubisoft's CSI series, based on the most popular television franchise in the United States, and two games based on the best-selling Bone comics by Jeff Smith. Telltale's games have won numerous awards, including Adventure Game of the Year accolades from publications such as IGN, PC Gamer, GameSpy, and Adventure Gamers, and have been recognized by mainstream outlets ranging from The New York Times to Variety. USA Today ranked Wallace & Gromit's Grand Adventures among five downloadable games to watch for in 2009.

Telltale currently develops and publishes episodic series on PC, Wii, and Xbox 360, with plans to expand to additional platforms and channels in the coming year. For more information, visit http://www.telltalegames.com.

2009-07-08T10:14:00.001-07:00